Feel like packing it in already - my experience as a new starter

[Helliconia]

Hi there, I'm new to here and new to RM too, having only been a postie for a couple of weeks. Just wanted to share my experience as a new starter and perhaps get some advice from some of you experienced guys about where I'm going wrong. While there are definitely elements of the job I enjoy (working outside, saying hello to the residents - can't say more than hello, not enough time! -, walking a lot) I do feel like I was mislead/lied to about the job.

I'm on a 27 hr contract and so was expecting it to mainly be around 27 hrs per week. I was told in the interview that they were looking for people who could occasionally do a bit of overtime, particularly around the busy Christmas period, and I was perfectly okay with helping out every now and then, but from what I can see so far, pretty much every day will require me to go over. Today was the worst day (as I understand all wednesdays are) when I turned up at my start time and my entire frame was covered in parcels, all in no particular order, so many that I couldn't even see the post behind. There were a bunch of letters scattered about as well, so I had to place them into the frame myself. All in all, it took me a good 10-15 mins just to get my frame to the point where I was able to make head or tail of everything, and so I could begin my redirects.

To cut a long story short, it took me over one and a half hours from coming in to leaving in the van. Now I know im much slower than the other guys and am always the last one to leave, but how bad it is I don't know. The problem I see it as is that the full timers are well into their tying up by the time I arrive for my shift. In fact, I have seen some leaving the yard/loading into vans just as I'm arriving. In effect they have roughly an hour headstart on me on their rounds. Surely this gives the wrong impression to the bosses about what can be done in a certain timeframe, doesnt it? Or am i wrong? I know of a couple of other part timers so far and they both come in earlier every day and work for free. Maybe because they know they can't complete their rounds on time if they don't? I can't come in any earlier even if I wanted to as I have kids that I need to get ready and set off for school, so I kind of feel like I'm being punished for being a part timer and sticking to my contracted hours.

And to make matters worse, I am currently on a van share and so was holding this other chap up all the time. He was very nice about it, but he told me that we were going to have to leave a bunch of stuff to be able to make it back on time. So we get the stuff in the van and it's gone 10am before we're on our way, leaving us with only three and a half hours to do two full rounds in as well as both our lapsing. We did the best we could and managed to get one of the rounds completed and a tiny bit of the other round before cutting off and heading back to the office. When we got the other round out of the van and put it on the frame my heart sank. We hadn't done 90% of my round and now I'm dreading going in tomorrow and having to catch up or rearrange it all, taking even longer in the morning.

This is just a normal week as well. I am absolutely dreading the Christmas period and all the stress that entails!

At this point, even though I have only been there for 2 weeks, I am feeling so disheartened that I am feeling like handing my notice in tomorrow. I really don't want to as I need the money and I do love it when I am out there, feet on the pavement, I just hate the tying up part and the stress of trying to sort everything and finish on time. Why do they even advertise for those hours if they know that it's not possible to do the rounds in that timeframe? I don't know, maybe I'm just not cut out for it. On the plus side, I have lost a couple of pounds!

[julielock87]

This was my experience too I was contracted 5 days a week 20 hours but was ending up doing 3 full time days as a reserve one day I walked 13.5 miles I knew I had to walk a lot but I felt I couldn’t keep 13.5 miles a day up I lasted 4 weeks due to lack of support from management but in a way I wish I hadn’t quit so quick maybe keep it up for a bit longer if you can

[koolishy67]

Same here started wrong time in November with in a week thought this is not for me someone told should be ok after Dec since than 12 years I am still here from beginning coming early little bit helps

[Tristral]

First - Don't be coming in early at all. Unless they ask you to and pay you for it and it doesn't get in the way of your kids.

Second - All offices and managers and staff can be completely different so your experience is going to vary alot to some folks. Some people when they start get lucky and get cushy walks fully prepped. Others will get left to their own devices and either sink or swim depending on how good or bad the walks are.
I've found the dumber you are or 'act' will actually work in your favour and get you potentially something easier. (Am not saying it's right but it's been rife for years where I work)

You can do your hours and either cut off or not take mail out. It sucks to be those customers but don't drive yourself into the ground for it. Don't stress over the workload and let managers manage. If it's too much then they should be sorting it not letting it pile on new starts.

[world class male]

1st of all sorry for the position RM have put you in, it's well known that they put on the new guys (and old)
if you can stick it out over xmas you should be ok, don't fret, it's mental for all and unfortunately they have have created a dog eat dog environment,
there will be plenty of good guys out there, blend in and take the mickey as well as take it back in good humour and i'm sure some will help indoors
but outside, it's a jungle but without the monkeys as they are left indoors drinking coffee....or pg tips

[tomtallis]

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[redneck]

So depressing, you see this time and time again, new people hoodwinked into working 40 plus hours a week when some only wanted 20 as in the contract. Coming in early suggested as an option but unpaid. Shared duties not matched up properly. Screws treating anyone who objects like s**t.

There's never been a worse time to join RM, but if you survive this you might find things get a little easier with experience

[rambo1]

Things will get easier. Just stick with it and someday it will all click into place, different time frame for this for different people. You can only do what you can do, you are only human. Best bit of advice is DO NOT start coming in early. You are there to earn money, not for a holiday, once you start coming in and working for free, you'll continue, seen it happen. Ask for advice. Most you'll find are helpful and friendly because they have all stood in your shoes. Keep your chin up, take one thing at a time and don't panic. Good luck and welcome.

[Jahpostie]

Leave as soon as you can, there are far easier ways to make money. Frankly the job is shot. The culture is corrupt. They'll use and abuse you until you break. I got out before it broke me. I sleep better with less and less pains and stress and now have energy after work and my weekends back. If you can get your old job back do it or make waves to get another. Don't try to survive the break in period because since covid and expanding duties there are zero perks to the job. Go.

[iHateD2Ds]

Unfortunately, this is how it is , thrown in the deep end. In time, you will get faster and probably feel less stressed .Do not try and be a super star by coming in early, you will just have more work to do.
See ,how you feel in a months time .

[priority102]

Sorry to hear about your early days with RM, but in complete reality, it won't get much better.

Admittedly you've started at the wrong time of year (I started end of November but back then online shopping did not exist and the biggest worry were Xmas cards) so it will be mayhem. BUT......what you must NOT do is work for free.If you work for free you will make the DOM and higher ups day. Straight after Christmas it will be back to more lapsing etc. The higher up management always go very quiet at this time of year as they want the Xmas pressure to complete and will not throw any spanners in the works by upsetting posties. That way they know posties will just get on with it and deliver.

But after Christmas they will be straight back onto the DOM's to turn the thumb screw back on you.

Only come in early if you want to, BUT ONLY if they agree to pay you for coming in early. Everything you do for free will help your DOM as it saves his budget money and paints a totally false picture of what is happening. Not wearing seatbelts/walking over gardens/not shutting gates etc etc all saves the company money but also enables them to get more out of your saved time with lapsing. You will feel totally stressed and pi$$ed off that you are working for free and it will affect not only your working day but your out of work personal life too. Please DON'T do it.

As you will see from the many posts on here, the job has become less desirable over the last few years, mostly since privatisation.

Think about it - if you worked in a shop where you started at 10am but the shop actually opened at 9am - would you go in at 9am and work for free until 10am? Suspect not!

[chrisj]

Is it a surprise that your own round was the one not completed? Your partner might appear nice but there is something not right there?

Are you working with a full time staff? If so, then he should be prepping your round so that all is ready (at least letters) before you arrive. If you are working with another part timer then the managers are not doing their jobs well...

In fact, the whole mess (common as well) is mostly the manager's fault - they do not utilise the resources well or too scared to ask those responsible for prepping to complete.

Speak with your Union rep and then manager. It is disheartening and overwhelming to come in to two days mail especially on a Thursday but you can only do your best and keep bringing back. They will sort it out eventually - even your partner will feel compel to pull his or her finger out...

Recruitment is not easy these days and it take a long time but a lot of managers still do not provide a good welcome or start for newbies. Pity!

[tomtallis]

[TrueBlueTerrier]

After 17 years in the job, I think you are at what I called the WTF stage.

You have been here just long enough to get the basics, but not yet understand the nuances to make it all flow.

You should have more support but if you go like nearly 99% of all posties that have started since I did within about 4 weeks (so just up t the Christmas rush) it will all of a sudden click and you'll look back and wonder when it happened.

Stick with it till after Christmas if you can, and then you'll have the best job in the world, but with the worst management, and the strangest company culture anywhere. It is a rewarding job, but it's one that needs grit and determination to make it enjoyable.

[Jahpostie]

After 17 years in the job, I think you are at what I called the WTF stage.

You have been here just long enough to get the basics, but not yet understand the nuances to make it all flow.

You should have more support but if you go like nearly 99% of all posties that have started since I did within about 4 weeks (so just up t the Christmas rush) it will all of a sudden click and you'll look back and wonder when it happened.

Stick with it till after Christmas if you can, and then you'll have the best job in the world, but with the worst management, and the strangest company culture anywhere. It is a rewarding job, but it's one that needs grit and determination to make it enjoyable.

Maybe it was "the best job in the world" before it hit the stock exchange. Now how can it be, particularly for a reserve and since covid volumes, chucked about for years with daily unmanageable work loads. You've either been there forever with an easy walk or you're a manager. Let's not kid on the newbies. They had that at interview.